Berlin trials autonomous electric ships for urban package delivery

The Technical University of Berlin is testing a fleet of small, solar‑powered autonomous boats in the Westhafen canal. The vessels, developed under the A‑SWARM II research project, can navigate electrically, detect obstacles and dock without a crew. On longer routes the boats can link together into a swarm and separate again near their destination.

The system is intended to move parcels from large distribution centres to local hubs on the water, where they are transferred to cargo bikes for the final delivery leg. Project leader Professor Gerd Holbach says the aim is to relieve road traffic by using Berlin’s historic waterways for the “penultimate mile” of logistics. A pilot operation is planned to run through the end of 2027 to demonstrate the integration of autonomous driving, cargo handling and last‑mile delivery.

If successful, the trial could showcase a new model for urban freight that reduces congestion and emissions while re‑using existing canal infrastructure.